Conduit threading tool

ABSTRACT

A tool to be used in threading conduit or pipe section together. The tool includes a roller to be inserted in the free end of the pipe section, and the roller is journaled on a shaft which extends outwardly from the lower end of a column. A pair of handles project from opposite sides of the column and are adapted to be grasped by a workman to hold the free end of the pipe section above the ground and in alignment with the other pipe section to be joined. As the pipe section is manually rotated to threadedly connect the pipe sections, the pipe section will rotate freely on the roller.

United States Patent Eaton 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] CONDUIT THREADING TOOL Iv Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit [72] inventor Jack Eaton GleasonAssistant Examiner-l. Kenneth Silverman 3] Assisnee: V n Er Elec ri Rdolph. Wis. Attorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [22] Filed:Jungol, 1.970 [57] ABSTRACT 2| A I. N 42 5 I pp 9 t A tool to be used inthreading conduit or pipe section together. The tool includes a rollerto be inserted in the free [:52] US. (Pl. "294/19 a d f th pi e ction,and thg roller is journaled on a shaft I l I It". (,I. 1 "M71 13/06 hiextends outwardly from the tower end of a column A I Ml M 0' Slmfdl..294/l9, 5.5, 26, l, 15, 27; pair of handles project from oppositesides f the comm and 81,13 areadaptedtobegraspedbyaworkman tohold thefree end of the pipe section above the ground and in alignment with the{56] W CM other pipe section to be joined. As the pipe section ismanually UNITED STATES PATENTS rotated to threadedly connect the pipesections. the pipe section will rotate freely on the roller. 2,785,9203/1957 Barnes ..294/26 1,675,812 7/1928 Loyd ..294/l5 4 Claims, 4Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBZZ I972 3', 543,991

INVENTOR. Jack Ed+on Z A \Q CONDUIT THREADING TOOL This inventionrelates to a conduit or pipe threading tool to be used in threadingconduit or pipe sections together.

Electrical conduit or sanitary pipe is generally composed of a series ofsections which are threaded together. When the conduit has a substantiallength, of perhaps to feet, the services of several workmen are requiredto connect the pipe sections. One workman will align the threaded end ofthe pipe section with the existing pipeline, while a second workman willhold the free end of the pipe section above the ground in alignment withthe pipeline. Depending on the length and size of the section, in someinstances a third workman is also employed to hold the central portionpipe section. As the pipe section is threaded into the existingpipeline, it is necessary for each workman to rotate the pipe sectionthrough an increment of rotation and then regrasp the pipe section inpreparation for a second increment of rotation. This action requiresrealignment of the pipe section after each increment rotation. Thus, thethreading operation is a rather difficult task and this is particularlytrue when the pipeline is located in a narrow trench or otherinaccessible location where it is very difficult for workmen to hold andalign the pipe section for threading purposes.

The present invention is directed to a tool for assisting in thethreading of pipe sections or conduit. More specifically, the toolincludes a roller to be inserted in the free end of the pipe section tobe threaded to a second pipe section or an existing pipeline. The rolleris joumaled on the end of a shaft and the shaft is attached to the lowerend of a vertical support member or column. A pair of handles extendoutwardly from the upper portion of the support member and the workman,by lifting upwardly on the handles, can elevate the free end of the pipesection slightly above the ground so that it is out of contact with theground and in axial alignment with the existing pipeline. With the pipesection in aligned condition, a second workman can then rotate the pipesection to provide the threaded connection and during rotation, the pipesection will freely rotate on the roller.

The tool of the invention aids in providing alignment of the pipesection with the existing pipeline, because the workman using the toolof the invention will be standing upright in a better position tovisually determine whether the pipe sections are in alignment.

As a further advantage, the tool enables the free end of the pipesection to be held above the ground where it can freely rotate withoutinterference with the ground and where sand, soil or other foreignmaterial will not accumulate within the pipe section during thethreading operation.

Due to the fact that the pipe section is supported by, and can freelyrotate on, the roller, the threading operation can be accomplished in asubstantially shorter period of time with the service of fewer workmenand this substantially reduces the overall labor cost in threading thepipe section or conduit.

A further and important advantage is that the tool enables the pipesection to be properly aligned and joumaled for rotation even inrelatively inaccessible locations, such as deep narrow trenches.

The tool of the invention can be used for threading any type or size ofrigid pipe, tubing, conduit or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pipe threading tool of the inventionas utilized with a pipe section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the tool as located in the pipewith parts broken away in section;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the tool.

The drawings illustrate a pair of pipe sections or conduits l and 2 tobe threaded together in an end-to-end relation. Each pipe section isprovided with a threaded male end 3 which is to be engaged with thethreaded female end 4 of the other pipe section.

According to the invention, a tool 5 is employed to aid in threading thepipe sections 1 and 2 together. The tool 5 includes a roller 6 which isjoumaled for rotation on the end of a horizontal shaft 7. The shaft 7 isconnected to the lower end of a vertical support member or column 8, andas shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 7 extends at an angle of about withrespect to the support member 8. A pair of crossbars or handles 9 areprovided on the upper portion of the support member 8 at a level wherethey can be readily grasped by an operator to lift the device above theground.

As shown'in FIG. 4, the handles are positioned diametrically opposite onthe support member 8 and are each displaced ap proximately 90 from theaxis of the shaft 7.

In operation of the pipe threading tool of the invention, the male end 3of pipe section 2 is aligned by a workman with the female end 4 of theother pipe section 1. A second workman, grasping the handles 9, insertsthe roller 6 into the free end of the pipe section 2, as shown inFIG. 1. With the roller inserted within the end of the pipe section, theworkman lifts upwardly on the handles 9, elevating the free end of thepipe section 2 to a position where it is in axial alignment with thepipe section 1. With the pipe sections properly aligned, the firstworkman will then manually rotate the pipe section 2 to thread the pipesections together. During rotation of the pipe section 2, it will rotatefreely on the roller 6.

The tool of the invention facilitates alignment of the pipe sections 1and 2 due to the fact that the workman utilizing the tool is upright andis in a better position to visually gauge the alignment of the pipesections. This not only facilitates threading but eliminates anyproblems of misthreading or jamming of the threaded connections.

The tool enables the free end of the pipe section 2 to be elevated abovethe ground so it can freely rotate during threading on the roller 6, andthis not only minimizes frictional contact with the ground, but alsoreduces the possibility of soil or other material entering the free endof the pipe section.

The tool is particularly useful when joining pipe sections together inrelatively deep or narrow trenches. With the use of the tool, theworkman using the tool need not enter the trench but can stand at gradelevel and lower the tool into the trench.

to support the free end of the pipe section.

The tool of the invention is adapted to be used for joining varioustypes of pipe, conduit or tubing, including those formed of metal,reinforced plastic, fibrous material, or the like.

I claim:

1. A pipe threading tool, comprising a support member, rotatable meansjoumaled for rotation with respect to an end of the support member andincluding a shaft and a roller carried by the shaft, said roller adaptedto be positioned within the free end of a first pipe section to bejoined to a second pipe section, the axis of said shaft being disposedgenerally normal to said support member, and handle means attached tothe opposite end portion of said support member and extending laterallytherefrom in a position to be grasped by an operator, said operatoradapted to lift the support member and said first pipe section aboveground to align said pipe sections, said first pipe section being freelyrotatable on said rotatable means as said first pipe section is threadedinto engagement with said second pipe section.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims which particularly point outand distinctly claim the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said handle means comprises a pair ofhandles extending outwardly in opposite directions from said supportmember.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said handles are located diametricallyopposite on said support member and both of said handles are displaced90 with respect to said shaft.

dles extending outwardly from opposite sides of the upper portion of thesupport member in position to be grasped by an operator, said operatorlifting said support member through said handles to thereby elevate thefirst pipe section above the ground and permit said first pipe sectionto rotate freely on said roller, as said first pipe section is manuallythreaded into engagement with said second pipe section.

1. A pipe threading tool, comprising a support member, rotatable meansjouRnaled for rotation with respect to an end of the support member andincluding a shaft and a roller carried by the shaft, said roller adaptedto be positioned within the free end of a first pipe section to bejoined to a second pipe section, the axis of said shaft being disposedgenerally normal to said support member, and handle means attached tothe opposite end portion of said support member and extending laterallytherefrom in a position to be grasped by an operator, said operatoradapted to lift the support member and said first pipe section aboveground to align said pipe sections, said first pipe section being freelyrotatable on said rotatable means as said first pipe section is threadedinto engagement with said second pipe section. Various modes of carryingout the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of thefollowing claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim thesubject matter which is regarded as the invention.
 2. The tool of claim1, wherein said handle means comprises a pair of handles extendingoutwardly in opposite directions from said support member.
 3. The toolof claim 2, wherein said handles are located diametrically opposite onsaid support member and both of said handles are displaced 90* withrespect to said shaft.
 4. A tool for assisting in threading pipesections together, comprising a vertical elongated support member, ashaft connected to the lower end of the support member and disposed atan angle of approximately 90* with respect to said support member, aroller journaled on said shaft and adapted to be inserted within one endof a first pipe section, the opposite end of said first pipe sectionadapted to be threaded into engagement with an end of a second pipesection, and a pair of handles extending outwardly from opposite sidesof the upper portion of the support member in position to be grasped byan operator, said operator lifting said support member through saidhandles to thereby elevate the first pipe section above the ground andpermit said first pipe section to rotate freely on said roller, as saidfirst pipe section is manually threaded into engagement with said secondpipe section.